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Cruiser paint OMT (one more time) Now W/pics

07-10-2009, 06:34 PM

Well, I just delivered the Cruiser to the very same paint booth where Dick's Daytona , my Sunshine and a number of other Studebakers got shot with paint.
18 hours from now, it should be wearing it's fresh rendition of Blue Mist Metallic. With sealer and everything else, this paint application (note that I didn't say "paint job") is setting me back about 800 or 900 bucks. That's just the materials. Another hundred for the use of the booth, a couple hundred for the painter (the same painter that did Dick's Daytona, BTW)

I've got roughly (very roughly) $1500 in bodywork. Another easy grand in weatherstripping and NOS mouldings as well as the anticipated $400 for two bumper rechromes. This is a labor of love project. It has been from the start. I paid $425 for the car at auction. I'm gonna have an easy 10 times that in it when I pronounce it done.[:I]

The original engine really starts and runs nice. There's a hint of smoke to it, but I could fix that if I wanted. Thing is, I've got three fresh V8s on stands here. I've decided to put the 321 to work in this Cruiser along with a fresh Cruise-o-matic conversion tranny that I got in a deal awhile back. Those, in concert with a 3.07 44TT rear, and I think I'll be stylin'.

UPDATE 7/13/2009

Cruiser's back home today. First shots with masking removed and basking in the morning sun. Blue get's her finish sanded and buffed next weekend. She'll really be glassy then!

321[?] Oh, please tell me you're not putting a Cleveland in the Cruiser? C'mon Biggs, I thought you of all people would keep it Studebaker. Then again... but no... A 289 block wouldn't bore out that far, would it?

Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

Home of the famous Mr. Ed!K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!Ron SmithWhere the heck is Fawn Lodge, CA?

Comment

This engine came my way via a 64 3-ton truck that I bought in the late 90s. It was one that Lionel Stone commissioned Jon Myer to build for use in that big truck.
It happens to be an R3-4 block that's serialized B112. It's been hogged out to accept AMC 304 pistons, which is how it attains 321cubes.

Charlie, the engine that was originally in Dick's Daytona proved to have a cracked block when I got around to trying to get it running. I ended up gutting it and scrapping the block.

Comment

Mr. Biggs, I think you and Champtruck should collaborate and have your car featured as the "Eye Candy" of the day when you get it back together! That could be a great way to begin a new tradition of celebrating any member's completion of a project!

John Clary
Greer, SC
Life... is what happens as you are making plans.
SDC member since 1975

John Clary
Greer, SC
SDC member since 1975

Comment

This engine came my way via a 64 3-ton truck that I bought in the late 90s. It was one that Lionel Stone commissioned Jon Myer to build for use in that big truck.
It happens to be an R3-4 block that's serialized B112. It's been hogged out to accept AMC 304 pistons, which is how it attains 321cubes.

Charlie, the engine that was originally in Dick's Daytona proved to have a cracked block when I got around to trying to get it running. I ended up gutting it and scrapping the block.

Comment

I don't think I'm gonna do that. Besides, I already named the car "Blue". Elain was a nickname my dad had for mom.

Anyway, the car's finally, freshly blue. It'll spend the next 20 hours or so, curing in the booth. Here's some photos as it progressed thru the painting process. Rick Guzman sprayed with assistance from his cousin, Vinny.